Old Whaling ship turned in to a brothel and riots ensue.

 In 1826
The Ark was built on the hull of an old whaling ship "Camillus". It rested near the shore in New Bedford, Ma., a Whaling port. 

It had a house built on the top of it.

Soon enough it became a brothel and trouble ensued.

There is a great story about this and the second Ark, the riots and hilarious episode with a mob that ensued on the New Bedford, Ma. history website
http://www.whalingcity.net/new_bedford_local_history_1820%20-%201829.html

You have to scroll down on the page to the chronological history date for 1826 and for even more outrageous antics go to the second "Ark" section in 1829

www.WhalingCity.net is a website with a chronological history of the city and also listings for people and places.